How to Do Crystal Reports things in SQL RS

I have a couple of quick questions that I'm hoping someone can help me with.
I'm coming from Crystal development and working through RS's interface is
cumbersome for me. These are the things I need to do:
1) Test data field values for Null, Zero or a blank space and insert a 'N/A'
or 'None' only in those records where the data is as above, retaining the
data for those records that have a valid string. I can't figure this one
out. Keep getting a compilation error saying I need to use System.DBNull for
my expression, then complains when I do use it. Then it complained about the
value I was trying to replace. I was using an IIF per the only example I
could find in the help files (right click field -> properties -> Expression).
Was this the right place and expression? Pointers appreciated.
2) Insert a Group on a blank report (not using the report wizard). I can do
the insert group on the report wizard, but don't want to for various reasons.
I can't find the "Insert Group" command anywhere, even by right-clicking in
the blank body. But I see the handles the help files talk about when I
design a different report using the Report Wizard and can see the "Insert
Group" command when I right click. Again, can someone tell me where to find
this on the blank report design screen?
Thanks!for nulls:
=iif(isnothing(Fields!fieldname.Value),"None",Fields!fieldname.Value)
for grouping:
In a table, just right click on the row header. ("row header", hmmm that's
not what it's called. The row selector? The thing on the left side of the
table with the 3 black lines)
Mike G.
"Catadmin" <goldpetalgraphics@.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:6EB3FBC2-F44A-4976-88E1-8DC9C825953A@.microsoft.com...
>I have a couple of quick questions that I'm hoping someone can help me
>with.
> I'm coming from Crystal development and working through RS's interface is
> cumbersome for me. These are the things I need to do:
> 1) Test data field values for Null, Zero or a blank space and insert a
> 'N/A'
> or 'None' only in those records where the data is as above, retaining the
> data for those records that have a valid string. I can't figure this one
> out. Keep getting a compilation error saying I need to use System.DBNull
> for
> my expression, then complains when I do use it. Then it complained about
> the
> value I was trying to replace. I was using an IIF per the only example I
> could find in the help files (right click field -> properties ->
> Expression).
> Was this the right place and expression? Pointers appreciated.
> 2) Insert a Group on a blank report (not using the report wizard). I can
> do
> the insert group on the report wizard, but don't want to for various
> reasons.
> I can't find the "Insert Group" command anywhere, even by right-clicking
> in
> the blank body. But I see the handles the help files talk about when I
> design a different report using the Report Wizard and can see the "Insert
> Group" command when I right click. Again, can someone tell me where to
> find
> this on the blank report design screen?
> Thanks!
>|||Mike,
I appreciate your help, but I'm still confused on the grouping part. I'm in
the Layout tab of a blank report and I'm not seeing this row selector you're
speaking off. I'm not even in a table. The field list doesn't have anything
like what you describe and neither does the Solutions Explorer or the
Properties window.
Can you describe this a little better for me? Thanks.
Catadmin
"Mike G." wrote:
> for nulls:
> =iif(isnothing(Fields!fieldname.Value),"None",Fields!fieldname.Value)
> for grouping:
> In a table, just right click on the row header. ("row header", hmmm that's
> not what it's called. The row selector? The thing on the left side of the
> table with the 3 black lines)
> Mike G.
>
> "Catadmin" <goldpetalgraphics@.yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:6EB3FBC2-F44A-4976-88E1-8DC9C825953A@.microsoft.com...
> >I have a couple of quick questions that I'm hoping someone can help me
> >with.
> > I'm coming from Crystal development and working through RS's interface is
> > cumbersome for me. These are the things I need to do:
> >
> > 1) Test data field values for Null, Zero or a blank space and insert a
> > 'N/A'
> > or 'None' only in those records where the data is as above, retaining the
> > data for those records that have a valid string. I can't figure this one
> > out. Keep getting a compilation error saying I need to use System.DBNull
> > for
> > my expression, then complains when I do use it. Then it complained about
> > the
> > value I was trying to replace. I was using an IIF per the only example I
> > could find in the help files (right click field -> properties ->
> > Expression).
> > Was this the right place and expression? Pointers appreciated.
> >
> > 2) Insert a Group on a blank report (not using the report wizard). I can
> > do
> > the insert group on the report wizard, but don't want to for various
> > reasons.
> > I can't find the "Insert Group" command anywhere, even by right-clicking
> > in
> > the blank body. But I see the handles the help files talk about when I
> > design a different report using the Report Wizard and can see the "Insert
> > Group" command when I right click. Again, can someone tell me where to
> > find
> > this on the blank report design screen?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> >
>
>|||Okay, I've finally figured it out. I needed Toolbox open so I could drag
Table to the Layout. I had the Field List open and couldn't figure out how
to drag the Table icon over. Thanks for your help, Mike.
Catadmin
"Catadmin" wrote:
> Mike,
> I appreciate your help, but I'm still confused on the grouping part. I'm in
> the Layout tab of a blank report and I'm not seeing this row selector you're
> speaking off. I'm not even in a table. The field list doesn't have anything
> like what you describe and neither does the Solutions Explorer or the
> Properties window.
> Can you describe this a little better for me? Thanks.
> Catadmin
> "Mike G." wrote:
> > for nulls:
> >
> > =iif(isnothing(Fields!fieldname.Value),"None",Fields!fieldname.Value)
> >
> > for grouping:
> > In a table, just right click on the row header. ("row header", hmmm that's
> > not what it's called. The row selector? The thing on the left side of the
> > table with the 3 black lines)
> >
> > Mike G.
> >
> >
> > "Catadmin" <goldpetalgraphics@.yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > news:6EB3FBC2-F44A-4976-88E1-8DC9C825953A@.microsoft.com...
> > >I have a couple of quick questions that I'm hoping someone can help me
> > >with.
> > > I'm coming from Crystal development and working through RS's interface is
> > > cumbersome for me. These are the things I need to do:
> > >
> > > 1) Test data field values for Null, Zero or a blank space and insert a
> > > 'N/A'
> > > or 'None' only in those records where the data is as above, retaining the
> > > data for those records that have a valid string. I can't figure this one
> > > out. Keep getting a compilation error saying I need to use System.DBNull
> > > for
> > > my expression, then complains when I do use it. Then it complained about
> > > the
> > > value I was trying to replace. I was using an IIF per the only example I
> > > could find in the help files (right click field -> properties ->
> > > Expression).
> > > Was this the right place and expression? Pointers appreciated.
> > >
> > > 2) Insert a Group on a blank report (not using the report wizard). I can
> > > do
> > > the insert group on the report wizard, but don't want to for various
> > > reasons.
> > > I can't find the "Insert Group" command anywhere, even by right-clicking
> > > in
> > > the blank body. But I see the handles the help files talk about when I
> > > design a different report using the Report Wizard and can see the "Insert
> > > Group" command when I right click. Again, can someone tell me where to
> > > find
> > > this on the blank report design screen?
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >